Prize providing system

Abstract

To provide a prize providing system that gives interest beyond the purchase operation, and is high in entertainment value.SOLUTION: A prize providing system 100 consists of a pay-out device 110 and a projection device 120. The pay-out device 110 comprises a storage part 112 which stores a plurality of prizes, a discharge part 114 which discharges a prize T from the storage part 112, a payment part 113 where a sensor 113a detecting money C being put in is arranged, and a control part 115 controlling operations of the discharge part 114 and projection device 120, and the control part 115 operates the projection device 120 when a detection signal is transmitted from the sensor 113a to project an image on a projection object surface S of a housing 111 of the pay-out device 110, and then operates the discharge part 114 to discharge the prize T.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a prize providing system that provides prizes to users. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, prize dispensing devices that randomly dispense prizes such as toys and accessories have been known as a type of vending machine. Some prize dispensing devices include a storage unit that stores multiple capsule-shaped containers containing different types of prizes, and when a user inserts a coin into a coin slot and then operates a handle, a prize is randomly dispensed from the storage unit. With such prize dispensing devices, the user cannot know the contents of the prize until they actually hold it in their hands, allowing them to make a purchase with a sense of anticipation and excitement.

[0003] On the other hand, conventional vending machines, including prize dispensers, often present information about the products they sell in static formats, such as printed materials or product samples, which leaves users with a problem of not being able to adequately attract their attention. To address this problem, vending machines have been proposed that move away from static information presentation and instead present dynamic information, such as still or moving images, to attract users' attention. For example, a vending machine has been proposed in which a diffraction grating surface of a certain size that produces the optical Huygens effect is provided on the inner surface of a transparent panel on the front of the vending machine, and a projector is provided on the rear panel of the vending machine. This projector projects an image onto the diffraction grating surface, allowing the user to see the image floating through the transparent panel (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This allows the image to appear to float on the transparent panel, drawing people's attention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-256920 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In other words, if a prize dispensing device can add excitement beyond the purchase operation, like the vending machine in Patent Document 1, not only will it attract more attention, but it will also increase the enjoyment of purchasing a prize.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a prize providing system that is highly entertaining. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The means adopted by the present invention to solve the above problem is a prize provision system comprising a dispensing device having a storage section in which a plurality of prizes are stored, an ejection section which ejects the prizes from the storage section to an outlet, and a payment section which is equipped with a sensor which detects that a predetermined amount of money has been paid, and a projection device which is arranged at a distance from the dispensing device, wherein the dispensing device further comprises a control section which controls the operation of the ejection section and the projection device, and wherein the control section, when a detection signal indicating completion of payment is transmitted from the sensor, activates the projection device to project an image onto the surface of the housing of the dispensing device for a predetermined period of time.

[0008] The prize provision system of the present invention includes a dispensing device and a projection device, and projects an image onto the dispensing device when a user completes payment. That is, the prize provision system is configured to project an image onto the surface of the housing of the dispensing device by using a sensor provided in the dispensing device in cooperation with a control unit that activates the projection device when the sensor detects that payment has been completed. This allows the surface of the housing of the dispensing device to become a screen onto which the image is projected, significantly changing the appearance of the dispensing device until the user receives the prize. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In the prize providing system of the present invention, a sensor installed in the payment unit of the dispensing device detects that the user has completed payment, and the control unit that receives this detection signal activates the projection device to project an image onto the surface of the dispensing device, temporarily changing the appearance of the dispensing device, which the user can enjoy until they receive their prize. This makes it possible to provide the user with a highly entertaining purchasing experience. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a prize providing system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the prize offering system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a prize providing system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a prize providing system according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is a prize providing system comprising a payout device and a projection device.

[0012] The payout device provides the user with a prize randomly selected from a number of prizes stored inside when the user completes payment. Here, a prize refers to small items in general, such as toys, dolls, accessories, and stationery, regardless of whether they are stored in a capsule, box, or other container. Furthermore, money includes not only coins and paper money, but also entertainment medals offered in exchange for money, credit cards, electronic money, and other electronic data forms of money.

[0013] The payout device includes a storage unit, a payout unit, a discharge unit, and a control unit. The storage unit forms a space for stocking multiple prizes inside the device and is configured to allow prizes to be replenished from the outside.

[0014] The payment unit detects that payment by the user has been completed. The payment unit can accommodate payments by coins or banknotes, as well as payments by electronic payment using credit cards or electronic money, and is equipped with a sensor that detects that a predetermined amount of coins or banknotes have been inserted into the money insertion slot and / or that payment has been completed by electronic payment using a credit card or electronic money. The sensor is not particularly limited as long as it can detect that payment has been completed, and for example, sensors that detect coins or banknotes passing through the insertion slot, or that detect a change in weight that occurs in the part that accepts money after inserted coins or banknotes have been inserted, or that detect that payment of a predetermined amount has been completed regardless of whether it is cash or electronic payment, can be used.

[0015] The discharge section is connected to the storage section and discharges the stored prizes one by one to the outside, and can be a modified version of one used in an existing prize dispensing device.

[0016] The control unit is connected to the sensor provided in the payment unit, the discharge unit, and the projection device (described later), and controls the operation of the projection device when it receives a detection signal from the sensor indicating that payment has been completed. The control unit is set to control the operation of the projection device, for example, when the sensor in the payment unit detects that a predetermined amount has been paid. The control unit can be, for example, a computer with an embedded control program, and there are no particular limitations on the means for connecting the sensor and the control unit, and the control unit and the discharge unit and the projection device, as long as they are capable of sending and receiving signals.

[0017] The projection device projects images such as still images, videos, and projected mapping onto the surface of the housing of the dispensing device, and an existing projector can be used. The start and stop of image projection by the projection device is controlled by the control unit of the dispensing device. Note that the projection of images by the projection device 120 is performed by playing back image data stored in a storage medium (e.g., HDD, SSD, DVD, etc.) built into or external to the projector. The projected image may be set to play back the same image every time, or multiple image data may be stored and set to play back different images each time a user changes.

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0019] 1 shows a prize providing system 100 according to this embodiment. The prize providing system 100 includes a payout device 110 and a projection device 120.

[0020] Dispensing device 110 includes, inside housing 111, storage section 112, payment section 113, discharge section 114, and control section 115. On front surface 111a of housing 111, there is provided projection surface S, which is provided with a plurality of convex sections 111b of regular or irregular shape so that projection mapping is formed by projection device 120, which will be described in detail later, and outlet 116, which is connected to discharge section 114, which will be described in detail later.

[0021] The storage section 112 has an internal space capable of storing a plurality of roughly spherical capsules T containing prizes, and is configured so that the capsules T can be inserted from above. In addition, the bottom of the storage section 112 is provided with an outlet 112a large enough to allow one capsule T to pass through.

[0022] The payment unit 113 supports both payments with coins or banknotes and payments by electronic payment, and has a money slot and an IC reader (not shown) arranged on the front surface 111a of the housing 111, as well as a sensor 113a that detects when a coin or banknote has been inserted and when payment by electronic payment has been completed. The payment unit 113 also includes a counter that confirms the value of the coin or banknote inserted into the money slot.

[0023] The discharge unit 114 is connected to a discharge port 112a provided at the bottom of the storage unit 112, and is provided with a shutter (not shown) that opens and closes the discharge port 112a so as to discharge only one of the capsules T located near the discharge port 112a. That is, by temporarily opening and closing the shutter, only one capsule T is discharged from the storage unit 112 and moved to the outlet 116 through the discharge path 114a.

[0024] The control unit 115 is connected to the sensor 113a, the shutter of the discharge unit 114, and the projection device 120, which will be described in detail later, and upon receiving a detection signal from the sensor 113a indicating that payment has been completed, operates the shutter of the discharge unit 114 and the projection device 120. The control unit 115 is configured by a computer that executes a program that controls the operation of the discharge unit 114 and the projection device 120.

[0025] Projection device 120 is a so-called projector, and is placed on base 120a installed in a position where it can project an image onto projection surface S of housing 111 of dispensing device 110. Projection device 120 is connected to control unit 115, and when a detection signal indicating payment completion is transmitted from sensor 113a to control unit 115, projection of the image begins, and projection mapping is formed on projection surface S of housing 111, which can be viewed by user U operating dispensing device 110. A storage medium (not shown) on which image data to be projected onto projection surface S is stored is connected to projection device 120, and the image is projected by receiving the image data from this storage medium.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of the prize distribution system 100. First, a user U who wishes to purchase a prize completes payment by inserting a predetermined amount of money C into the payment unit 113 or by reading electronic money or a credit card (step S1). The sensor 113a then detects that the payment has been completed, and a detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 115 (step S2). The control unit 115 then instructs the projection device 120 to start projection, and an image is projected onto the projection surface S of the housing 111 for a certain period of time (step S3). Thereafter, the shutter of the discharge unit 114 is activated, and only one capsule T is randomly discharged from among the multiple capsules T stored in the storage unit 112 (step S4). Finally, the user U receives the discharged capsule T from the takeout port 116, completing the purchase of the prize (step 5).

[0027] According to the prize providing system 100 of this embodiment, when the sensor 113a provided in the payment unit 113 of the dispensing device 110 detects that payment has been completed, the control unit 115 activates the projection device 120 to project an image onto the dispensing device 110, so that a user who wishes to purchase a prize can wait to receive the prize while watching the image projected on the dispensing device 110. This makes it possible to provide the user with a highly entertaining purchasing experience. [Example]

[0028] 3 shows a prize providing system 100 of Example 2. The prize providing system 100 of Example 2 has a dispensing device 110 and a projection device 120 that have the same configuration as Example 1, but a portion of the configuration of the dispensing device 110 and the position where the projection device 120 is arranged are different from those of Example 1. Therefore, only the configuration that differs from Example 1 will be described here, and a description of the common configuration will be omitted.

[0029] 3, dispensing device 110 is formed to be taller than dispensing device 110 in Example 1, and a projection surface S onto which an image projected from projection device 120 is projected is formed in the upper part of front surface 111a. Projection device 120 is disposed on base 120a installed at a position shifted in the height direction from the front of projection surface S of dispensing device 110, since projection surface S is provided above dispensing device 110, and lens shift setting is made so that an image is projected downward toward projection surface S.

[0030] According to the prize provision system 100 of Example 2, in addition to the effects of the prize provision system of Example 1, an image can be projected from a position shifted in the vertical direction from the front of the dispensing device 110, thereby preventing the image projected onto the projection surface S from being blocked by the body of the user U standing in front of the dispensing device 110. [Example]

[0031] 4 shows a prize providing system 100 of Example 3. The prize providing system 100 of Example 3 has a dispensing device 110 and a projection device 120 that have the same configuration as Example 1, but a portion of the configuration of the dispensing device 110 and the position where the projection device 120 is arranged are different from those of Example 1. Therefore, only the configuration that differs from Example 1 will be described here, and a description of the common configuration will be omitted.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, dispensing device 110 is formed to be taller than dispensing device 110 in Example 1, and a projection surface S onto which an image projected from projection device 120 is projected is formed in the upper part of front surface 111a. Projection device 120 is disposed on base 120a installed at a position shifted to the left from the front of projection surface S of dispensing device 110, and lens shift is set so that the image is projected toward the right of projection surface S.

[0033] According to the prize providing system 100 of Example 3, in addition to the effects of the prize providing system 100 of Example 1, an image can be projected from a position shifted laterally from the front of the dispensing device 110, thereby preventing the image projected onto the projection surface S from being blocked by the body of the user U standing in front of the dispensing device 110.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and combinations are possible within the scope of the claims and the scope of the embodiments, and these modifications and combinations are also included in the scope of rights.

[0035] For example, in the embodiment, projection device 120 is installed so as to project an image onto front surface 111a of housing 111 of dispensing device 110, but multiple projection devices 120 may be installed so as to project onto the sides or wall surfaces around dispensing device 110, or speakers may be installed to add sound effects. Also, the image projected onto projection surface S of housing 111 is not limited to projection mapping; for example, it may be formed on a flat surface without convex portions 111b and ordinary still images or videos may be projected onto it. Furthermore, painting or surface treatment may be performed so that the image is beautifully projected onto projection surface S.

[0036] In addition, payment unit 113 may be configured to support only one of the payment of coins or banknotes and electronic payment with electronic money, or a handle that is operated after payment is completed may be provided on dispensing device 110, and the operation of the shutter of discharge unit 114 may be linked to the operation of the handle. For example, the handle and the shutter may be mechanically connected so that the shutter is operated in accordance with the movement of the handle, or the handle and the shutter may be electrically connected via control unit 115 so that the shutter is operated when a signal indicating that the handle has been operated is transmitted to control unit 115. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 Prize System 110 Dispensing device 112 Storage section 113 Payment Department 113a Sensor 114 Discharge section 115 Control Unit 120 Projection device C. Money T Capsule (prize)

Claims

[Claim 1] a dispensing device including a storage section for storing a plurality of prizes, a discharge section for discharging the prizes from the storage section to an outlet, and a payment section provided with a sensor for detecting that a predetermined amount of money has been paid; a projection device disposed at a distance from the dispensing device, The dispensing device further includes a control unit that controls the operation of the discharge unit and the projection device, The control unit is characterized in that when a detection signal indicating payment completion is transmitted from the sensor, it activates the projection device to project an image onto the surface of the dispensing device's housing for a predetermined period of time.

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